ASUU Strike 2013 Update: Enugu State University Plans to Re-open Without Union Approval

The ASUU strike in 2013 still continues, but the latest update shows that it is getting closer and closer in coming to an end.
In an unprecedented move, the Enugu State University of Science and Technology registrar has told students the school is re-opening on November 18.
Universities have been closed for months amid the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

But, the Enugu State University is moving ahead without the union, it appears. The registrar said in a statement: ”Examination commences immediately,” and announced the re-opening for Monday, reported Coal City FM Enugu. No official announcement has appeared on the university’s website.
There may be some federal government support for the move.  Insiders said at the beginning of the month–prior to the marathon meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the union leadership–that the federal government would begin re-opening universities, with or without an agreement.
That meeting ended up going well, and the union was expected to meet on November 13 to call off the strike, after the majority of the union branches voted to end the strike.
But the sudden death of former ASUU president Festus Iyayi prompted the union to call a 7-day mourning period, which may be seen as unusual or not.
If the move by the Enugu State University proceeds well, then other universities may move to re-open without an agreement.
Details about the re-opening, such as who will be teaching if union teachers are still on strike, are not immediately available.
The ASUU, meanwhile, said that it is not in support of the re-opening.
Prof. Agu Gab Agu, chairman of the union branch at the university, said in a statement that “The academic staff of ESUT dissociates itself from the above announcement.”
“While ASUU-ESUT mourns the demise of Professor Festus Iyayi, a former President of ASUU, it awaits the direction of the [National Executive Council] on the ongoing strike.”
There has been no indication from the union leadership, apart from the 7-day mourning period announcement, of what date if any has been chosen for the executive council meeting that was canceled after Iyayi’s death.

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